Sentence Correction

The period when the great painted caves at Lascaux and Altamira were occupied by Upper Paleolithic people has been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are the reason for their decoration, the use to which primitive people put the caves, and the meaning of the magnificently depicted animals.
(A) has been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are
(B) has been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine is
(C) have been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine is
(D) have been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine are
(E) are established by carbon-14 dating, but that which is much more difficult to determine is

I narrowed it down to A and B. The OA is B, but I am confused as to why A is not the answer. Answer (a) has a list of three following it ( difficult to determine are X,Y, and Z) ... Shouldnt are be used here ??

I am reallly confused with this one

Another reason why I believe the answer is "B" is due to the word "people, which is singular and not plural. What must follow the word people must be a singular verb, such as "is" and not a plural verb "are". "Is the reason" sounds more concise when ellipsing the sentence as well.

Further, Do not be misled by a phrase that comes between the subject and the verb. The verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun or pronoun in the phrase. In this case, "The period"...... "is" the reason... "The period".... "are" the reason is incorrect and the subject and verb don't agree.

dnkcdnguy wrote: word "people, which is singular and not plural.

just a correction

people is plural and person is singular

@dnkcdnguy & @Zipper

I still dont understand the explanation. "Are" verb is not for "reason" but for the list of items that are "difficult to determine". So, it should be "are" instead of "is".

And moreover, this verb is not concerned with "the period" subject.


Could you please explain in once more keeping the doubts i have highlighted.

I am with James_83. I dont understand your explanation. Could you be more clear ( my verbal truly sucks ).

Lets find the core of this sentence:

The period has been established by carbon-14 dating, but what is much more difficult to determine is the reason for their decoration and the meaning of the magnificently depicted animals.

Consider this sentence:

What I love about Italy is/are its people and culture.

Is or Are ?

Logitech explains it best!

Thanks for pointing out my error with "people", which is plural and not singular. "Person" would be singular.

Isn't 'and' uniting the three singular subjects X,Y and Z here?

And shouldn't the compound subject thus formed take a plural verb form? (i.e. 'are') ?

as in

What is difficult to determine are X, Y and Z ....

('Alan and Jane are going to the park', but not 'Alan and Jane is going to the park') whereas, if it were only Alan, a singular subject, it would be ('Alan is going to the park')
Because another subject has come in, and 'and' is uniting the two singular subjects, the compound subject is taking the plural verb form 'are'

Kindly help.

in B: what is much more difficult to determine are ,

The three reasons stated that are difficult to follow are all in singular form...

It should be read as:

what is much more difficult to determine IS the reason for their decoration,
what is much more difficult to determine IS the use to which primitive people put the caves,
and
what is much more difficult to determine IS the meaning of the magnificently depicted animals.

all singular..so ARE is no correct!

I kinda get how this is working but am not 100% sure between using "is" vs "are".

1. We say: "the players are" Joe, John, and Jeff."
2. We also say: "What truly commands respect is a large air force and a resolute foreign policy."

Can someone please explain?

Will an expert please clarify this because iv just searched on google for an clear explanation but with no success.

I am very confused as to when to describe a series linked by and in plural form or in a singular form



what is more difficult to determine ARE x,y,and z.

is x, y and z does not sound right to me.

hongwang9703 wrote:Will an expert please clarify this because iv just searched on google for an clear explanation but with no success.

I am very confused as to when to describe a series linked by and in plural form or in a singular form



what is more difficult to determine ARE x,y,and z.

is x, y and z does not sound right to me.

the sentence says it is difficult to determine the REASON (singular) for x,y and Z. Hence, is must be used here.

AH hah!! thank you cool, evil, suspicious looking sir!